Incubation machine



Oct. 31, 1961 R. K. BAILEY 3,006,320

INCUBATION MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1958 ,6 Sheets-Sheet 1 65 24 JNVENTOR. RALPH K. BAILEY ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 R. K. BAILEY 3,005,320

INCUBATION MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. RALPH K. BAILEY ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 R. K. BAILEY INCUBATION MACHINE ,6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 24, 1958 R Y NE L HA B .1. K H P L A R ATI'ORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 R. K. BAILEY INCUBATION MACHINE .6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 24, 1958 FIG-H INVENTOR. RALPH K. BAILEY l/tl/I/ Ill I ll l If Ill/ll!!! ll/J I I l ATT OBNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 R. K. BAILEY 3,006,320

INCUBATION MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1958 ,6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-l2 INVENTOR. RALPH K. BAILEY ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1961 R. K. BAILEY INCUBATION MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1958 e Sheets-Sheet e FIG-16 TIM R MoT oR 295 2 LEVEL INVENTbR. RALPH K. BAILEY ATTORQEYS United States Patent 3,006,320 INCUBATION MACHINE Ralph K. Bailey, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to The Buckeye Incubator Company, Spring'field, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 782,789 4 Claims. (Cl. 119-37) This invention pertains to the incubation of eggs and more particularly to machines for the initial incubation of eggs, commonly called setters.

The commercial incubation of eggs is commonly called out in two stages involving the employment of two separate incubating machines. The first state is that of the incubation proper wherein eggs which are to be incubated are placed within trays, and the trays are placed within a machine for automatically and accurately maintaining all environmental conditions necessary to the proper development of the embryo. In the case of chicken eggs, the eggs remain in the first machine, which is commonly called a setter, for approximately 18 days after which time they are removed and transferred to a second machine which is commonly called a hatcher, for the remainder of the incubation period. The hatcher may be of the type fully described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 758,494, filed September 2, 1958, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

The initial incubation period, being the longer of the two stages outlined above, is perhaps the more critical as to the precise environmental conditions necessary to the highest practicable yield from fertile eggs. The egg setter machine must therefore be constructed, and its components arranged, so that these conditions may be maintained uniformly throughout the interior of the machine with a high efliciency of operation and a minimum of maintenance cost. The control and circulating systems must assure uniform temperature and humidity conditions to each of the egg trays and must be operable to remove the carbon dioxide laden air from the trays and from the setter through exhaust openings.

During the 21-day period of incubation for chicken eggs, the eggs remain in the setter for approximately 18 days and in the hatcher for approximately three days or until hatched. This proportioning of time permits successive 3% day stage loadings of a setter of suitable capacity so that a new hatch of eggs becomes available for the hatcher at 3% day intervals. It is therefore seen that 18-day settings are removed, and fresh settings may be placed into the setter, on an average of twice each Week. Accordingly it is desirable that the machine be so constructed that this may be done without upsetting or affecting the temperature and humidity conditions Within the machine.

The preferred embodiment of the setter comprises a walk-in cabinet structure wherein left and right egg tray compartments are positioned on each side of a center aisle. The egg tray compartments consist of tiers of tray racks for supporting the individual egg trays. These tiers have support components which are, in turn, connected by hanger bars to a turner or tilting mechanism. The egg compartments are isolated from the aisle by draw curtains which extend substantially to the tops of the compartments on each side and are tied down at their bottom short of the cabinet floor to provide a compartment air inlet space. The egg trays are perforated and the tiers are spaced to provide air passageways for the upward circulating of the air therethrough.

Heavy duty air circulating fans are mounted on fan boards which are spaced from the ceiling in a row along the aisle and which direct circulating air downwardly toward the floor for entry into the egg tray compartments 3,006,320 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 below the curtain. The air circulating fans also draw in outside air through ceiling openings for circulating with the inside air. An air blower and an inlet conduit are mounted on the outside of the cabinet on the ceiling and supply, on demand, additional outside air to the interior of the cabinet for cooling purposes. Suitable exhaust means including external exhaust conduits are provided for the elimination of air displaced by the air circulating fans and the air blower. The external placement of the air conduits has the advantage of permitting them to be uninsulated, and at the same time, eliminates the obstruction to the flow of air along the interior surfaces of the cabinet. Means are also provided for heating, water cooling, and increasing the vapor content of the circulated air.

The cabinet is provided with a control system by which the environmental conditions within the cabinet are measured and maintained at optimum prescribed levels. The control system includes visual indicating thermostats positioned to be responsive to the temperature within the egg tray compartments with a temperature indicator facing the aisle. The thermostats are readable through slide fastener openings formed in the curtain next to the thermostats when the curetains are fully drawn. The disturbance of such cabinet conditions is avoided during the loading and unloading periods as much as possible by the provision of a unique door arrangement wherein a second and smaller access door is fitted within the main entrance door. The access door may be opened independently of the entrance door for the hand passage of egg trays therethrough with minimum heat loss from within the interior of the cabinet. A double paned window is mounted Within the access door so that the interior of the cabinet may be observed while both doors are closed. Also, as a part of the control system, a unique automatic resetting alarm system operates from a standby power source, such as a battery, to give a warning indication upon power failure or excessive cabinet temperatures.

The operator-controlled portions of the control system are grouped on a forwardly facing control panel which consists of a swing-out cabinet with a hinged rear back member for the inspection and maintenance access to the electrical relays and other components contained by the cabinet. Electrical connection is made from the control panel to the individual electrical and power consuming units within the setter cabinet through a unitary electrical conduit running generally fore and aft within the aisle.

An egg turner control circuit is provided by which the egg trays are automatically cycled through periodic tilting, and the control circuit also includes provision for the automatic leveling of the trays from without the cabinet preparatory to the loading and unloading thereof. The circuit further includes a memory provision for the return of the trays to their immediate preceding tilt position for the time remaining at that position upon the reestablishment of automatic tilt operation. 7

The invention accordingly numbers among its objects the provision of an egg setter characterized by some or all of the features outlined above, and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the egg setter;

FIG. 2 is a partly broken away front view on a somewhat enlarged scale showing details of the interior of the cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a partly broken away perspective view of the top of the cabinet of FIG. 2. showing the air conduit arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional View 3 through the setter taken on a plane transverse to the aisle to illustrate the air circulation pattern and system;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken away perspective view of a fan board at the far end of the aisle with an outline thereof showing the fan in the lowered position;

FIG. 6 is a detail of the fan board hinge and the upper curtain support;

FIG. 7 is a detailed fragment of the trays and the lower curtain support;

FIG. 8 is a partially broken away perspective view of a visual thermostat positioned in one of the egg tray compartments;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are partially broken away perspective views of the control panel showing the closed and open condition respectively of the hinged inner panel member;

FIG. 11 is a partial elevational view on a somewhat enlarged scale of the interior of the front wall panel showing details of the connections to the control panel;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the turner mechanism;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the adjustable turner plate;

16. 14 is an end view of the turner plate showing the turner bar connection in section;

FIG. 15 is a partial elevational view of the turner plate drive mechanism looking from the aisle with the curtain removed and a portion of the support channel broken away;

FIG. 16 is an electrical schematic of the turner motor control system; and

FIG. 17 is an electrical schematic of the alarm circuit.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 shows at 20 an egg setter cabinet constructed according to the teachings of this invention and including a main entrance door 21 through which an operator may enter the cabinet. Door 21 is mounted to swing out on the front panel 23 on hinges 24. The entrance door 21 includes a second and smaller access door 26 mounted in a suitable opening formed in the entrance door 21 and normally latched thereto by latch 27, and when unlatched, is mounted to swing out on small hinges 30 for the hand passage of egg trays therethrough. The access door 26 includes an observation window 31 which is preferably formed of spaced glass panes having dry nitrogen sealed therebetween in order to reduce the collection of moisture thereon and the loss of heat therethrough.

The front panel 23 also includes a splash shield 33 extended across the bottom of the cabinet 20. A pair of guard rails 34 and 36 are positioned on the front panel 23 on either side of the main entrance door 21 above the splash shield 33. The rails 3436 and the shield 33 protect the front of the cabinet from being marred by such hazards such as wash Water, egg tray carts and the like. The front panel 23 further receives a control panel 37 conveniently located at eye level for the observation and attention of an operator.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, which exposes details of the cabinet interior, the cabinet is shown as being generally divided into a left egg tray compartment 40, a right egg tray compartment 41, and a center aisle 43 running substantially from the front panel 23 to the rear of the cabinet 20. The egg tray compartments 40 and 41 consist of tiers of egg trays 44 shown in a tilted position. Trays 44 are preferably supported one above the other by egg tray support frames 45 (FIG. 7). The frames 45 have opposite corners attached to metal hanger straps 46 for tilting movement, first in one direction and then in the other, by a suitable turner mechanism described in detail in connection with FIGS. 11-14.

A pair of generally U-shaped supporting rails or channels 49 and 50 extend from front to back of the cabinet on either side of the aisle 43 and cooperate with cross channels 52 to provide structural support for the cabinet,

are positioned on either side of the rails 49-50 near the fan boards 51 to be in the circulating air flow to provide cooling when required.

A pair of air impervious curtains 56 may be drawn to separate the compartments 40 and 41 from the aisle 43 and are normally drawn during the operation of the machine. As best shown in FIG. 6, the curtains 56 include rings 60 which are slidably carried on curtain support rods 61 dependently carried by the rails 49 and 50. The curtains are firmly held down in place by springs 62 which are engaged over a horizontal frame support 63. An air inlet opening 64 is thereby defined between the bottom of the curtains 56 and the cabinet floor 65 through which the circulated air enters into the compartments 40 and 41.

A row of outlet openings 66 are formed in the ceiling 67 above each of the compartments 40 and 41 and communicate with a generally rectangular exhaust conduit 70 mounted on the exterior of the ceiling 67, as shown in FIG. 3. Also mounted on the ceiling 67 is an air inlet conduit 72 running generally fore and aft of the cabinet and open at the front end to receive fresh room air from an inlet blower 74 received on the front panel 23.

The fan boards 51 each carry a fan 75 which is mounted to direct air downwardly through a fan board opening 76 to the floor of the aisle. Immediately above each fan 75 is a fresh air inlet opening 77 formed in the ceiling 67 beneath the inlet conduit 72 and through which the fans 75 may draw fresh air for circulation within the setter. Also, cooling air may be forced through the openings 77, when required, by the blower 74.

Mounting means is included by which the boards 51 may be lowered or removed to expose the rotating parts of the fans 75 for cleaning or oiling. This includes a plurality of strap hinge elements 83 mounted on one side of the board 51 adjacent the right hand rail 50 and each having a hook shaped end portion 84 which engages a slot in a mating hinge element 86 bolted to the rail 50. Any suitable board fastening means, such as bolts 88, may be employed to fix the free end of the board 51 to the left rail 49 to hold the fan boards 51 in the operative position. When it is desired to lower the board 51 for access to the fan 75, the bolts 88 are released and the board is then free to swing down on the strap hinge elements 83-86 to one side of the aisle 43 as shown in the dotted outline in FIG. 5. At that time, the boards 51 may be removed by unplugging the electrical leads 89 and by lifting to disengage the end portion 84 from the hinge element 86.

The fans 75 carry heating elements 90 which are insulated therefrom by stand-off insulators 91 for supplying heat energy to the circulated air. The moisture content of the air within the cabinet may he increased by water spray nozzles 93 depending from cross channels 52 and received through small openings 94 provided in the fan board 51. Although spray nozzles 93 are projected through the two boards nearest the center of the cabinet, each of the boards 51 include nozzle openings 94 so that the placement of the removable boards 51 is not restricted.

A pair of vertical columns 95 are positioned adjacent the egg tray compartments 40 and 41 on opposite sides of the aisle 43. The columns 95 each support a visual reading thermostat 96 (FIG. 8) having a temperature responsive stem portion 97 extended through the column 95 into the egg tray compartments between the trays to be responsive to the temperature therein.

The curtain 56 includes a viewing opening 98 adjacent the thermostat 96 through which an operator may observe the indicated temperature without opening the curtains. The opening 98 is provided with fastener means in the form of a slide fastener 98' for normally closing the opening 98. Electrical connection to the thermostats is made through the columns 95 for the control of the blower 74, the heating elements 90 and the high temperature alarm circuit, FIG. 17, as required.

The pattern of air circulating and ventilation within the setter during operation is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4. The circulated air from the fans 75 is directed downwardly through the aisle 43 against the floor 65 where it enters the egg compartments 40 and 41 through the openings 64 defined by the curtains 56 and the floor 65. The air then proceeds generally upwardly between and through the egg trays 44 to supply the exact temperature and humidity environmental conditions to the eggs and to carry ofi exuded carbon dioxide that would otherwise lie stagnant about the eggs. The fans 75 draw fresh air into the air circulating pattern through the air inlet openings 77 positioned immediately above each fan board 51. The air thus displaced by the fresh air drawn in through the openings 77 is removed through the ceiling air outlet openings 66 and the exhaust conduits 70 positioned over the egg tray compartments 40 and 41.

The circulated air is heated by the heating elements 90 to an incubation temperature of 99.50 F and is maintained at at least that temperature by the thermostats 96 during the entire incubation period. However, with a fully loaded setter, the animal heat given off by the eggs in the advance state of development may cause the temperature Within the compartments 40, 41 to rise to 99.7 F. at which time the blower 74 is operated as the most economical means by which cooling of the interior of the cabinet 20 may be effected. Also, additional cooling may be had by supplying water to the cooling coils 53, 54. It has been found desirable to operate the cooling coils only when the ambient temperature of the air from without the cabinet is known to be too high for proper cooling by the blower 74. Therefore, the cooling coils 53, 54 are utilized only when the outside air reaches a predetermined maximum temperature as detected by an outside thermostat 99 (FIG. 3). The placement of the inlet and outlet air conduits 70, 72 on the external surface of the ceiling 67 makes for the unrestricted air movement within the cabinet and obviates the necessity of insulating the ducts were they placed on the inside of the cabinet.

An opening 100 is provided in the front cabinet panel 23 through which the control panel 37 is received as shown in FIGS. 9, and 11. The panel 37 includes an outer panel member 101 hinged to the front wall 23 at piano hinge 102 and an inner panel member 103 hinged to the outer member 101. The panel members 101 and 103 are normally locked together by a lock 104 and turn together as a unit on the hinge 102. An engaging latch 106 carried on the inner member 103 is receivable within a spring latch 107 on the front Wall adjacent to the opening 100 for normally securing the control panel 37 to the cabinet and permitting the control panel to be opened upon the release thereof.

In the position shown in FIG. 9, an operator standing outside the cabinet may conveniently attend to the inspection or maintenance of the control components carried upon the rear panel 103, such as a wet bulb thermometer 110, a wick 111 attached to the bulb, a water tank 113 into which the wick is received and a dry bulb thermometer 115. The lock 104 securing the inner mem her 103 of the control panel 37 may be opened as by a key 116 to :gain access to the interior thereof for such inspection or maintenance as may be necessary, as shown in FIG. 10. At the conclusion of such inspection or maintenance therein, the panel members 101 and 103 may again be secured by the lock 106 to hold the electrical components contained therein safe from moisture and accidental contact.

The setter is provided with a central wiring conduit 120 within which is carried all of the necessary internal electrical connections and which supplies power to all of the internal power consuming units. This conduit consists, in part, of a substantially trapezoidiform sheet metal cover 121 longitudinally carried within the lower portion of the right support channel 50 and into which the interior power consuming units are plugged. The conduit is brought through a lead 122 into the control panel 37 through the back member 103 as shown in FIG. 11. Also brought into the control panel 37 are the external power supply lead 123 and a water supply tube 124 for the water tank 113.

The channels '49 and 50 also receive therebetween substantially midway between the ends thereof, and sup port, an electric turner drive mechanism shown generally at in FIG. 12. The drive mechanism 140 includes a reversible electric motor 141 connected through reduction gearing 143 to a transverse output shaft 144 rotatably received within the support bearings 146 and 147. The ends of the shaft 144 extend on opposite sides of the aisle 43 through openings in the channels 49 and 50 and carry an adjustable turner plate mechanism 154 thereon. Only the turner plate mechanism for the left egg tray compartment 40 is shown, it being understood that identical hardware may be employed for the right compartment 41.

The adjustable turner plate mechanism 154, as is best shown in FIG. 13, includes a cast drive member 155 keyed at 156 directly to the shaft 144 and thereby fixed for rotation with the shaft. The mechanism 154 includes means for the limited angular tilt adjustment of the egg trays 44 with respect to the output shaft 144. This adjustment is eflected by the angular rotation of the member 155 with respect to a turner plate 157. The plate 157 is generally triangularly shaped and includes hanger supporting pivots 160 at the outer extremities of bell crank portions 161 integrally formed therewith. A pair of notches 162 are cut into the top of each of the portions 161 and receive generally rectangularly shaped dogs 164, each of which include a plate receiving notch 166 engageably received over the plate 157.

The dogs 164 are each threaded to receive a carriage bolt 167 disposed generally parallel to the plate 157. The bolts 167 are freely received through a pair of 0ppositely disposed radially extended flanges 170 integrally formed with the drive member 155, and each bolt is provided with an adjusting nut 171 threaded on the portion thereof projecting below the flanges 170. ,The plate 157 is normally fixed to the drive member 155 by a pair of locking bolts 174 which may be loosened to permit the relative angular rotation of the plate 167 with respect to the shaft 144 by the appropriate loosen ing of one of the nuts 171 while tightening the other. The locking bolts 174 include heads 175 which are received through a pair of arc-shaped openings 178 formed in the plate 157 to limit and define the total relative angular movement which can be efiected by this adjustment.

The upper portion of the triangularly shaped plate '157 is pivotally connected to a turner bar 180 running generally fore and aft adjacent the egg tray compartment 40. This pivotal connection is shown in FIG. 14 as consisting of a bearing receiving bushing 181 which is secured to the turner bar 180 by a nut 183. A hearing 184 is mounted on the bushing 181 and is held against an enlarged collar portion 186 of the bushing by another nut 187. The plate 157 is rotatably mounted on the bearing 184 by a threaded collar 190 which includes a circumferential shoulder 191 formed to be received on one side of the plate 157, and which also is threaded to receive a retaining nut 192 on the other side of the plate.

A plurality of individual bell crank-like turner plates 200 are pivotally mounted on the channel 49 by pivots 201 and support the hanger straps 46 in depending relation as shown in FIG. 15, and identical structure is mounted on the right channel 50 for the tilting of the egg trays within compartment 41. Since the plates 200 are interconnected at turner pivots 202, and to the mechanism 154, by the turner bar 180, rotary motion of the mechanism 154 by the operation of the reversible electric motor 141 and the reduction gearing 143 causes a somewhat arc-shaped and substantially lateral movement of the turner bar 180, thereby eifecting egg tray tilt through the plates 200. In case the tilt of the trays 44 in one of the compartments difiers from the tilt on the trays in the other compartment, synchronizing adjustment may be effected by the relative adjustment of the plate 157 and the drive member 155 as described above.

The electric control system for the turner drive mechanism 140 is shown in FIG. 16 and includes provision for automatic tray tilting according to a timer-operated schedule, and for automatic tray leveling upon the demand of an operator. The reversible electric drive motor 141 is shown schematically in FIG. 16 as including an armature 253, a start field 254 and a run field 255. The start and run fields are simultaneously energized from an AC. source 260' through a circuit breaker 261 by either one of a clockwise relay 262 and a counterclockwise relay 263. The relays 262, 263 comprise clockwise and counterclockwise motor inputs. Reversal of the motor 141 is effected by the reversal of the run field 255 through the relay contacts 266 on the clockwise relay 262, or through the contacts 267 on the counterclockwise relay 263. The start field 254 is always energized without reversal by relay contacts 272 on the clockwise relay 262 or contacts 273 on the counterclockwise relay 263.

A two-position selector switch 280 permits the selec tion of automatic tray tilting or automatic leveling for the loading and unloading of the trays. In the Auto position of the switch 280 as shown, power is applied from the source 260 to a timer motor 281 which drives a pair of switch cams 282 and 283 through appropriate reduction gearing to make one complete revolution of the cams every two hours. The cams 282 and 283 respectively actuate single pole, double throw microswitches 286 and 287, once for each one-half revolution thereof. The microswitch 286 is energized in the Auto position of the selector switch 280 while the microswitch 287 is energized in the Level position.

A control box 288 is fixed to rotate with the transverse shaft 144 and contains single pole, single throw mercury sensing switches for the making and breaking of circuits in response to the tilt angle of the shaft 144 as driven by the motor 141. These switches are designated as follows: clockwise limit switch 290, clockwise level switch 291, counterclockwise level switch 292 and counterclockwise tilt switch 293. Each of the tilt switches 290 and 291 is connected to be energized selectively by the switch 286 on the cam 282, and each of the level switches 292 and 293 is connected to be energized by the switch 287 on the cam 283. The clockwise switches 290 and 292 include a common connection to the clockwise relay 262, and similarly, the counterclockwise switches 291 and 293 include a common connection to the counterclockwise relay 263 through which the relays 262 and 263 are selectively energized.

The selection of the Level position of the switch 290 by an operator removes power from the timer motor 281, and it remains in the stopped position until power is reapplied by the selection of the Auto position. In the Level position, power is applied through the switch 287 to the appropriate one of the level switches 292 and 293 according to the stopped position of the cam 283.

With the switch 280 in the Auto position shown, the timer motor 281 will cause the cams 282 and 283 to make one complete revolution every two hours. The switch 287 is inoperative during automatic operation, but the switch 286 will supply' power to the control box 288 to the clockwise switch 291 with the cam position shown, thereby energizing clockwise relay 262 to cause the clockwise rctation of the shaft 144 until the switch 291 is opened, and relay 262 drops out. This tilted condition is maintained for one-half hour until the cam 282 causes the microswitch 286 to energize the now closed counter- 8 clockwise mercury switch 293, thereby causing the motor 141 to rotate the shaft 144 until the tilt of the control box 288 opens the switch 293.

Upon the operators selection of the Level position of switch 280, the power applied to the switch 287 will energize the appropriate mercury level switch 291 or 292 according to the stopped position of the cam 283 to cause the motor 141 to bring the box 288 into a level position. A level warning lamp 295 is also energized through the Level position of the switch 280 to remind the operator that he should return to automatic operation upon the completion of the loading or unloading of the trays. Upon return to automatic operation, the trays are brought back to their preceding tilt position according to the stopped position of the timer motor 281 for the continuance of the cycle. 7

Means may be provided within the box 288 for the rotational adjustment of the mercury switches to select the limits of travel for level and clockwise and counterclockwise tilt. The selector switch 280, relays 262, 263, timer 281 and lamp 295 may be located conveniently within the control panel 37 and all necessary wiring to the control box 288 and the motor 141 carried within the conduit 120. As a precautionary measure for the protection of the entire turner mechanism including the trays and the tray tilting mechanism, the circuit breaker 261 is designed so as to open upon the slightest abnormal overload such as would occur, for instance, if a tray 44 were left partially out of the support frame 45.

The control panel 37 further includes an alarm circuit which provides a warning indication of a power failure or of an excessively high incubation temperature as sensed by the thermostats 96. The circuit further provides means for the disablement of the alarm which means includes an indicator lamp which will then operate until the trouble is corrected upon the reestablishment of the power or the lowering of the temperature, as the case may be. Such an alarm circuit is shown in FIG. 17 as including an alarm 300 connected to a source of standby power such as an alarm battery 301. The thermostats 96 include contacts which close upon the occurrence of an abnormally high temperature within the egg tray compartments. For this purpose the thermostats 96 in each of the compartments 40 and 41 may be connected in parallel and are schematically shown in FIG. 17 as one thermostat. The thermostat 96 is connected in series with the volt coil 304 of a normally open relay 305.

A second sensing unit indicates the presence of power at the line terminals L1 and L2 through the primary circuit breakers 308 and 309. This unit consists of a normally open relay 310 with a 230 volt field coil 311 connected across circuit breakers 308 and 309. A third circuit breaker 312 is connected to the line input L2 for the protection of the electrical components associated with the thermostat 96 and the relay 305.

. A hold relay 315 includes a first armature 316 with a normally open contact 317, and a second armature 318 with a normally open holding contact 319 and a normally closed alarm contact .320. The relay 315 further includes a low voltage holding coil 322 for operation with the battery 301. The negative terminal of the battery 301 is connected to one side of the parallel circuit combination of the contacts 325 of the relay 305 and the contacts 326 of the relay 310. The other side of the parallel circuit is connected to the armature 318 of the hold relay 315. Upon the occurrence of an abnormally high temperature, the relay 305 is closed through the thermostat 96, and the power from the battery 301 is applied to the alarm 300 through the contacts 325 and the normally closed contact 320 on the relay 315. Similarly, upon the failure of the power as by the opening of either of the circuit breakers 308, 309 or upon the failure of the power supply at L1 or L2, the relay 310 is released to close contacts 326 thereby completing a circuit from the battery 301 to the alarm 300 through the armature 31S and the contact 320.

Provision is included whereby an operator may silence the alarm, and automatically energize an alarm light in lieu thereof. This includes the momentary push button switch 333, which has one terminal connected to the battery 301 through either one or both of the relays 310 and 395 and another terminal connected to the holding coil 322. The switch 330 is effective upon the momentary depression thereof to energize the holding coil 322 of the relay 315. This actuation of the relay 315 breaks the contact 320 to the alarm 3% and closes the holding contact 319 in series with the holding coil 322. A 115 volt alarm light 332 is connected to the circuit breaker 312 through the armature 316 and the normally open contact 317, and is energized by the operation of the relay 315. The light 332 remains lit as long as the condition remains uncorrected which caused the alarm. A second momentary push button switch 335 may be connected in parallel to switch 330 and a low voltage alarm lamp 336 connected in parallel with the holding coil 322 for installation on a remote board, if desired. Upon the correction of the abnormally high temperature or the power failure, the circuit from the battery 391 to the relay 315 is broken and the circuit is thereby automatically reset for the next such occurrence.

In the operation of the setter, the controls on the panel 37 are adjusted and the cabinet is allowed to reach an operating temperature of 99.5 F. by the operation of the heater elements 90. The egg trays 44 are leveled preparatory to loading by placing the switch 28-1 in the Level position. The trays in the compartments .0 and 41 may be leveled with respect to each other by the appropriate adjustment of the adjusting nuts 171 on the turner piate mechanism 154. Once this adjustment is made, it should not be necessary to repeat it unless a change in the mechanism is caused by accident, Wear or disassembly.

An operator then enters the cabinet aisle 43 through the main entrance door 21 and draws the curtains 56 aside to expose the portion of the egg tray compartments 40 and 41 to be loaded. Egg trays 44, containing a quantity of eggs equivalent to the capacity of a hatcher, are passed to the operator within the cabinet through the access door 26 and placed into the support frames 45. It is therefore seen that the access door 26 prevents, as much as possible, an excessive loss of heat from within the cabinet. As is always the case except upon initial loading, the machine already contains older eggs and it is highly desirable that their condition remain as uneffected as possible. Accordingly, the new setting is distributed throughout the machine by entire trays according to a definite setting order so that the heat given off by the oldest eggs may be utilized to bring the new setting up to equilibrium temperature.

The curtains 56 are then drawn to isolate the compartments 40 and 41 from the aisle 43 and the circulated air from the fans 75 enters the egg tray compartments through the openings 64 below the curtains 56 for the circulation of air therethrough. The switch 280 is returned to the Auto position which energizes the timer motor 281 to cause the trays 44 to tilt first in one direction, where they remain approximately one hour, and then in the opposite direction for another hour, etc.

After a period of approximately 3 /2 days, a second quantity of fresh eggs is similarly loaded, and so on, until the setter is filled. As the first load reaches an advance state of development approaching 18 days, the animal heat given off may cause the compartment temperature to rise above 997 F. At this time, the air inlet blower 74 is operated to force cooler outside air through the inlet conduit 72 into the interior of the cabinet through the inlet openings 77. The air thus displaced is removed through outlet openings 66 and the exhaust conduits 70. Also, cooling water may be admitted to the cooling coils 53, 54 for additional cooling if called for by the thermostat 96. Additional moisture may be added to the circulated air by the operation of the spray nozzles 93. If for any reason the temperature should rise to 100.2 F. the thermostats 96 will cause the alarm'300 to ring to warn that corrective measures should be taken. After a load of eggs has remained in the setter approximately 18 days, the trays containing these eggs are removed through the access door 26 and transferred into hatching trays which are placed in the hatching unit and a new quantity of fresh eggs is loaded back into the setter to take its place, as described above.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an egg setter, acabinet having four walls and a ceiling and floor, means dividing the interior of said cabinet into left and right egg retaining compartments having an aisle therebetween running substantially from the front wall to the back wall, a fresh air inlet conduit mounted on the exterior of said cabinet on said ceiling over said aisle, thermostatically controlled blower means forming a part of said conduit and operable to introduce fresh air thereinto for cooling said cabinet, means forming an air inlet opening in said ceiling for receiving fresh air from said inlet conduit, an air circulating fan in said cabinet, means supporting said fan in said aisle adjacent said inlet opening to receive fresh air therefrom and to direct said air downwardly toward said floor, said egg retaining compartments each including means defining an air entrance opening near the floor and air ventilating passageways for the upward flow of circulating air therethrough, means forming exhaust openings in said ceiling positioned over said compartments, and an exhaust duct mounted on the exterior of said cabinet to receive stale air through said exhaust openings displaced from within said cabinet by said blower means.

2. An air circulating system for an egg setter having side and front and back walls and a ceiling and floor, comprising means dividing the interior of said cabinet into left and right egg retaining compartments having an aisle therebetween running substantially from the front wall to the back wall, a fresh air inlet conduit mounted on the exterior of said cabinet on said ceiling and running generally fore and aft over said aisle, a thermostatically controlled blower connected to discharge outside air into said inlet conduit, means forming a plurality of air inlet openings in said ceiling for receiving fresh air from said inlet conduit, a plurality of air cir culating fans supported in a row in said aisle adjacent said ceiling openings to receive fresh air therefrom and to direct said air downwardly toward said floor, said egg retaining compartments including means defining air entrance openings near the floor and air ventilating passageways for the upward flow of circulating air therethrough, stale air exhaust means in said ceiling positioned to receive air displaced from within said setter, thermostatically controlled electric heaters mounted on said fans in the path of air flow for heating the circulated air, and humidity spray nozzles arranged to spray water into said aisle in the path of air from said fans for adding moisture to the circulated air.

3. In an egg setter, a cabinet having four walls and a ceiling and floor, means dividing the interior of said cabinet into left and right egg retaining compartments having an aisle therebetween running substantially from the front wall to the back wall, a fresh air inlet conduit mounted on the exterior of said cabinet on said ceiling over said aisle, a blower mounted on said cabinet and arranged to force outside air into said inlet conduit for cooling the interior of said cabinet, means forming an air inlet opening in said ceiling for receiving Outside air from said inlet conduit, an air circulating fan supported in said aisle adjacent said inlet opening to receive air therefrom and to direct said air downwardly toward said floor, said egg retaining compartments each including means defining an air entrance opening near the floor and air ventilating passageways for the upward flow of circulating air therethrough, means forming exhaust openings in said ceiling to receive stale air displaced from within said cabinet by said blower, and control means for said blower including a thermostat having a temperature sensing portion extending within one of said compartments and having a viewing portion readable from said aisle for regulating the operation of said blower according to the temperature within said one compartment.

4. An air circulating system for an egg setter having side and front and back Walls and a ceiling and floor, comprising means dividing the interior of said cabinet into left and right egg retaining compartments having an aisle therebetween running substantially from the front Wall to the back wall, a fresh air inlet conduit mounted on the exterior of said cabinet on said ceiling and running generally fore and aft over said aisle, a thermostatically controlled blower connected to discharge outside air into said inlet conduit, means forming a plurality of air inlet openings in said ceiling for receiving fresh air from said inlet conduit, a plurality of air circulating fans supported in a row in said aisle adjacent said ceiling openings to receive fresh air therefrom and to direct said air downwardly toward said floor, said egg retaining compartments including means defining air entrance openings near the floor and air ventilating passageways for the upward flow of circulating air therethrough, stale air exhaust means in said ceiling positioned to receive air displaced from Within said setter, and thermostatically controlled electric heaters mounted on said fans in the path of air flow for heating the circulated air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,798 Martin Jan. 23, 1917 1,312,835 Corbitt Aug. 12, 1919 2,203,335 Lager June 4, 1940 2,215,664 Gedge Sept. 24, 1940 2,281,339 Taggart Apr. 28, 1942 2,296,930 Ihler Sept. 29, 1942 2,319,091 Smith et al. May 11, 1943 2,479,030 Taggart Aug. 16, 1949 2,646,930 Dryden July 28, 1953 2,654,345 Edwards Oct. 6, 1953 

